Your property in Vienna
Whether it’s apartments in exclusive developments on the banks of the Danube to trendy penthouses with panoramic views over historic monuments and parks, there’s a vast range of choice when it comes to property in Vienna.
For larger families, exceptional modern villas and carefully renovated, substantial traditional town houses are available in leafier areas, such as the 13th, 17th and 19th districts, or in communities on the outskirts of the city, in areas such as Baden.
Inside Vienna
Vienna’s grand and historic centre, which is a Unesco World Heritage site, combined with its legacy as the home to many world-famous classical musicians including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, create a traditional image for the city.
The Austrian capital, which topped a global quality of living survey for a decade to 2019, is rightly proud of its prestigious history, which is awe-inspiringly preserved, but it has undeniably developed a vibrant, modern buzz.
Areas such as Leopoldstadt, in the 2nd district, hosts a cluster of coffee shops and restaurants frequented by its arty community; the 4th district has the Naschmarkt food market serving up a plethora of international cuisine; and the 6th district boasts smart art galleries, boutique vintage shops, theatres and museums.
The further out from the centre, in areas such as the 13th, 18th and 19th districts, larger green spaces can be found, including woodland, vineyards, hills and parks.
Landscape
Vienna is a predominantly flat city located on the River Danube and its centre is readily navigable on foot.
On the edges of the city, the terrain becomes mildly hilly, with green slopes accommodating Vienna’s vineyards and forests.
Education
Vienna has roughly a dozen international schools, making it an exceptional location for families considering relocating to the city.
The various options include the Amadeus International School Vienna, which has an integrated music and arts academy, the Stella International School and the International Christian School of Vienna.
For further education, The University of Vienna is the country’s highest ranking university, while the Medical University of Vienna is also extremely well-regarded.
Activities and Entertainment
Captivating historical architecture knows no bounds in Vienna, with striking baroque palaces, including Schloss Belvedere and Hofburg (home to the Habsburgs for nearly 650 years), cultural sites such as the Karlskirche church and Gothic Rathaus city hall, and the Cathedral South Tower, which offers spectacular views across the city, being just a few of the exceptional buildings to visit.
Beyond its architecture, Vienna is an exceptionally green city and possesses many parks, including the vast Prater, complete with woodlands, meadows and tree-lined boulevards, Stadtpark, a perfect picnic spot, and Belvedere Gardens, while its various squares offer perfect places to relax in cafés, bars and restaurants.
For those who enjoy an active lifestyle, Danube Island, or Donauinsel, is popular in the spring and summer as a place to swim, paddleboard and kayak, while hiking and cycling around the city or out to its highest point – Hermannskogel hill – is a perfect way to explore Vienna and its surroundings.
Art and Culture
Just like its architecture, Vienna is bursting with museums, art galleries and exhibitions, notably in the MuseumsQuartier cultural hub, the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, which houses works by some of Europe’s finest sculptors and artists, and the Belvedere, home to one of the world’s most famous paintings - The Kiss by Gustav Klimt.
Vienna is known as the City of Music, meaning it hosts several extraordinary venues, including the main opera and classical music venue the Staatsoper. The city also has plenty of theatres and performing arts venues that offer everything from Shakespeare to modern plays. And the ball season in Vienna, where exquisitely dressed dancers glide across the ballrooms of the city’s glamorous venues, is a captivating tradition.
Vienna has a superb market culture, with regular markets such as Naschmarkt, considered the biggest produce market in the city, and Karmelitermarkt, which offers hungry locals a significant array of food stalls. Besides food, the excellent Flohmarkt is one of Europe’s best flea markets, and the city’s Christkindlmärkte draws crowds from across Austria and beyond thanks to its fantastic festive fare.
Food and Drink
Vienna gastronomic offering is increasingly leading to the city being considered a foodie capital of Europe. Whether its Wiener schnitzel or goulash in one of its pub-like beislns, white asparagus or tafelspitz (beef or veal broth) in an upmarket restaurant, or succulent venison in one of the several Michelin-starred restaurants, including three-star Amador, every dish is lovingly created.
Vienna is renowned for its sweet treats, with Sachertorte, a chocolate sponge with apricot jam, created by the Sacher Hotel, while apple strudel and powidltascherl (plum jam turnovers) are readily served in the city’s many coffee houses, which have been a fixture of Viennese life since the late 17th Century.
Exceptional wine is made in Vienna, with the city surrounded by vineyards. Local grape varieties including Grüner, Veltliner, Riesling and Blaufränkisch, and can be sampled at the city’s many vinothek cellars and heurigen (wine taverns). The city is also famed for its beer, and it has a lively cocktail scene, with the Vienna Gin Festival being a major event.
Accessibility
Vienna International Airport is just 20 minutes from the city centre and serves more than 200 destinations in 68 countries.
Austria has an exceptional rail network which connects its main cities to each other as well as to prime destinations in Europe. Its high-speed Railjet trains are considered among the most modern and luxurious in Europe, with journeys from Vienna to Salzburg in under 3 hours, and to Budapest, in Hungary, in just 2 hours 30 minutes.